This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9B project to build the Barclays Center arena and 15-16 towers at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park Brooklyn in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake going forward. As of 2018, after the arena and four towers were built, Greenland owns 95% of future construction.

From the latest Construction Update: East Portal work proceeds

The latest Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Construction Update (bottom), covering the two weeks beginning Monday, May 28, was circulated at 12:16 pm Friday (lead time) by Empire State Development (ESD) after preparation by Greenland Forest City Partners.

No new vertical construction is planned for now, which is why the B15 site pictured at right, between Dean and Pacific streets east of the arena block, looks so barren at the north end. (There is some equipment at the south end.)

Railyard work

MPT (Maintenance and Protection of Traffic) installations for the East Portal Median Reconstruction is supposed to begin during this reporting period, according to the notice, though a separate notice last week said the first phase, the closing of the west crosswalk, was supposed to begin May 23.

This MPT will close the south sidewalk, southern most travel lane, and south parking lane on Atlantic Ave near the intersection of Vanderbilt Avenue. This MPT will be in place to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of the East Portal structure, which is a pathway into the yard.

(The West Portal, a new and more direct pathway to Atlantic Terminal from the Vanderbilt Yard, pictured below right, recently opened.)

At the Vanderbilt Yard, daytime (presumably weekday) pile drilling will resume in the northeastern portion of Block 1120 (just west of the Carlton Avenue Bridge). (This was portrayed in red in the document below, which indicates new work, though it's not new.)

West Portal

At night and on weekends, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will continue to use a portion of the yard lighting near the Atlantic Avenue LIRR Access Ramp for security reasons. This is expected to continue through September. No specific hours were indicated.

Also, National Grid may be starting relocation work at Atlantic and Vanderbilt avenues.

Other work

At B3, 38 Sixth Avenue, there will be terrace lighting installation at the amenity lounge.

Also, sidewalk repair work will continue outside the Barclays Center, along Dean, Atlantic, Sixth, and Flatbush Avenues. This adds Sixth Avenue to the previous repair list.

The demolition that hasn't happened

As stated in the past 51 two-week construction updates, demolition at Block 1120, the railyard block between Sixth and Carlton avenues, could commence upon receipt of Department of Buildings and Department of Transportation permits. A community notice will be distributed. Maybe it's not actually going to happen within this two-week reporting period.